UPDATED: Auditor for Cyclone Idai donations

Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister July Moyo (left) and his deputy Jennifer Mhlanga (second from left) receive foodstuffs from Indian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Rungsung Masakui (right) and ZimGold Brand manager Junior Perekwa (second from right) donated by the Indian community in Zimbabwe towards Cyclone Idai victims in Harare recently. — Picture by Memory Mangombe

The Herald

Herald Reporters
Government has emphasised its commitment to ensuring accountability as donations for the victims of Cyclone Idai continue to come from various corporates, churches, schools and clubs.

Presenting the latest Cyclone Idai progress report recently, Manicaland provincial administrator Mr Edgars Seenza said the disaster management committee will engage an auditor to go over the financial reports to ensure that all funds that were received from well-wishers were accounted for.

Mr Seenza said the province had come up with a tight monitoring system that tracked goods from the moment they were received by his office to the moment they were distributed to the beneficiaries in the affected areas to avoid abuse by individuals.

Hundreds of thousands of dollars have so far been donated, along with tonnes of food and non-food items.

On Monday, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, donated more than 80 tonnes of relief items that include solar lamps, blankets, jerry cans, sleeping mats and kitchen sets, to help improve the livelihoods of the victims.

This was the second round of donations after the first consignment which was donated last week.

African Sun has also chipped in with a donation of linen and assorted groceries valued at $59 000.

Sales and marketing director Tariro Ndebele said the company would soon avail more donations.

“We intend to further our assistance in the coming weeks in the form of accommodation for doctors who have been treating survivors of the cyclone and those offering post-trauma support,” she said.

Enlightened Christian Gathering Church led by South African-based Prophet Bushiri took a unique path and donated a Bible, which was handed over to Minister of State for Manicaland Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba.

The church also donated a consignment of groceries for the victims. Various schools have also joined the multitudes in giving to the affected communities. Children from 3 Brigade Primary school, which is run by the Zimbabwe National Army, donated 200 pairs of shoes for fellow learners in Chimanimani and various clothing items.

Girl Guides Club in Manicaland, which was represented by pupils from Milestone Primary School in Rusape, also donated clothes, food stuffs and blankets.